Fall is primetime for art in Denver, a season when galleries and museums begin to pull out of their summer slowdowns and ramp up for the holidays. That looks to be especially true in 2026, when the local lineup will range from small, regional solo exhibits to globally sourced group shows. I pulled out a few of the most promising offerings to help you sort it all out.
One takeaway: It will be a star-studded season.
“Storytellers: The Blackfeet Nation and Charles M. Russell,” Denver Art Museum, Sept. 6–Jan. 24
DAM’s “Storytellers” is a dual celebration, of sorts. The exhibit marks the hundredth anniversary of the death of Western American painter — and icon — Charles M. Russell by putting a large number of his pieces on public display. But it also brings attention to a large gift of Russell’s output to the museum, which was donated by collectors and longtime patrons Tom and Jane Petrie. Itap a sizable show with more than 80 objects, including oils, watercolors and bronze sculptures made by Russell, plus ancestral works created in the 19th and 20th centuries by Indigenous artists who belong to what is now the Blackfoot Confederacy. In addition to the paintings, the exhibit will feature examples of beadwork, hide tanning and saddle making. Western art is DAM’s specialty, so expectations are high for this effort.
Info: 720-865-5000, or .
“A System in Place: In Dialogue with Sol LeWitt,” Vicki Myhren Gallery, Sept. 10-Nov. 20
The University of Denver’s main art space takes on a challenging exercise this fall, showcasing works by contemporary artists who use “instructions, rules, scores, algorithms and other generative systems as creative frameworks” for their pieces. Those artists follow in the footsteps of 20th-century master Sol LeWitt, who was known for developing precise directions for the installation of his famous minimalist wall drawings. For context, this exhibit will feature two of LeWittap own works, which are being painstakingly recreated directly on the gallery walls. Itap an ambitious undertaking to say the least and exactly the kind of exhibit you hope to see when you enter a university gallery — thoughtful art that comes together in a way that is also an eye-pleasing pleasure to look at. Ramón Bonilla curates a lineup that includes Ashley Frazier, Anthony Garcia Sr., Eltono, Collin Parson and others.
More info: 303-871-3716 or .
Mary Ellen Mark, “Indian Circus,” Colorado Photographic Arts Center, Sept. 25 – Nov. 14, 2026
Mary Ellen Mark was one of the most important American photographers of the 20th century. Mark’s habit of immersing herself in outsider communities and capturing casual, unpretentious portraits of the people she met shaped the art form while bringing viewers into worlds they never knew existed. The series “Indian Circus” is probably her best work, and this CPAC show will give local photo fans a chance to see it up close. Mark goes especially deep here, the result of spending six months traveling with 18 circus groups across India. The work falls somewhere between art photography and photojournalism, which was precisely Mark’s sweet spot.
Info: 303-837-1341 or .
Anne Siems: “Hansel, Gretel and the Wolf,” Visions West, September 4 -October. 3
There is a lot going on in the paintings of Anne Siems, some of it nefarious and some of it hilarious. For this body of work, Siems updates the characters of one of history’s best-known fairy tales, loading them up with tattoos and lots of electronics and repositioning them as “quasi-underground informants operating within a surreal surveillance-laden landscape.” Just like the original, this trek through the forest is all fantasy, but the acrylic-on-panel work has a lot to say about how we navigate our lives in an era when someone is always watching us — and we are watching them right back. Siems’ power is in how she balances it all out — the work can feel endearing, and a little threatening, at the same time. This cheeky gallery in LoDo is a great venue to experience it.
Info: 303-292-0909 or visionswestcontemporary.com.
Daisy Patton, “The Place of Flowers,” Denver Botanic Gardens, Sept. 19-Jan. 31
What could be more perfect than a painter named Daisy having a show at Denver’s biggest community garden? But beyond her first name, Patton’s work should fit well with the mission of DBG’s indoor galleries: to help visitors see the wonders of flora through the imagination of artists. Patton makes a variety of art but is best known for the type of large-scale paintings that will be on display here, which start with found vintage photos that she enlarges and embellishes with paint and embroidery to flesh out the inner life of the subjects, putting it all in the context of current social and political thinking. Patton’s work has a timeless edge, though most of the paintings in this show were made this year.
Info: 720-865-3500 or .
“DIVA,” Denver Art Museum, Oct. 4- Jan. 31
DAM’s big play for fall promises to be a crowd-pleaser. “DIVA,” as it is dubbed, spotlights fashion moves by some of the biggest names — past and present — in show biz. Itap a costume extravaganza featuring apparel worn by the likes of Cher, Gaga, Beyoncé, Rihanna and a host of other entertainers who do not need to use their last names to sell out arenas. The exhibit was put together by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, which first displayed it in 2023 before sending it on a global tour, which will make only one stop in the U.S. Expect it to be dazzling, if not deep, and a lot of fun for folks who love to see what their favorite celeb will show up wearing on the red carpet.
Info: 720-865-5000, or .
